Set it up in the hopes that I would see it: Trump criticizes Xi for China’s massive military display

Before disparaging china‘s largest-ever military parade as a meticulously planned show designed to grab his attention, US President Donald Trump called it “impressive.”

“I felt the ceremony was lovely. In the Oval Office, Trump told reporters, “I thought it was very, very impressive.” “But I understood the reason they were doing it. They also hoped I was observing. I was observing.

Leading the procession in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was accompanied by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Premier Vladimir Putin.

Featuring goose-stepping soldiers, state-of-the-art missile systems, and other equipment intended to represent China’s growing military power, the spectacle commemorated the 80th anniversary of the triumph over Japan and the conclusion of World War 2. 26 foreign heads of state were among the more than 50,000 spectators.

The US was not mentioned by Xi, who instead used his speech to express gratitude to “foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people.” Trump was annoyed by such omission and claimed that Washington was a major factor in Japan’s defeat.

“Xi is a friend, but I was surprised the US wasn’t mentioned,” Trump said. “We helped China greatly to gain its freedom and deserved credit.”

Trump reiterated his claim that Beijing is minimizing American contributions to the Allied triumph in Asia in an attempt to rewrite the history of the war.

The US president’s remarks followed his startling social media accusation that the Russian and North Korean leaders’ meeting in Beijing could be a plot against Washington.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” he wrote in a Truth Social post directed at Xi.

Trump, however, lowered his voice in the White House. “My relationship with all of them is very good,” he stated. “We are going to find out how good it is over the next week or two.”

When asked what he thought about not getting invited to the Beijing parade, Trump made it apparent that the rejection was not causing him any sleep problems.

“Until now, I hadn’t even considered it. “Never even considered,” he remarked. “I wouldn’t, it wouldn’t have been my place to be there.”

The parade, with its mix of military muscle and high-profile guests, was a major showcase of China’s expanding global influence and its growing ties with countries at odds with Washington.

The incident also takes place at a time when tensions between the US and China are at an all-time high due to the threat of extremely high tariffs and competition for geopolitical supremacy. Trump, however, emphasized his personal relationship with Xi and hinted that he would soon see the Chinese leader.